Cyrus Butler Minor, Jr.

Cyrus Butler Minor, Jr. was born in Rutherford, New Jersey on June 18, 1933 to Cyrus Butler, Sr., and Louise Minor.  He was one of four children, two of whom passed at a very young age, leaving him and his sister, Katherine; whom would pre-decease him. 
 

As a young high school boy, Cyrus was very popular with the girls but only because, as he says, he was the only guy with a car, and it was a convertible to boot!  He came from a family of firefighters, including his father and uncles, so it wasn’t a stretch that he too would go into firefighting. As a schoolboy in the Catholic school system, the nuns would automatically excuse him from class as soon as a fire alarm sounded.  

Cyrus entered the Naval Reserves while still in high school, then served three years in the Navy from 1951 until 1954. This was during the height of the Korean War, and his post was on the heavy cruiser, the USS Los Angeles California 135. He viewed parts of the world he otherwise wouldn’t have, including Korea, Japan, and Hawaii among them. Working alongside of 8 inch and 6 inch guns during this time would lead to his eventual hearing loss and his saying most often heard by all of us- “say what?”.

After leaving the Navy, Cyrus worked several odd jobs including selling bread and cakes door-to-door for Dugan’s Bakery. His calling to be of service led him to being a police officer with the Rutherford Police Force from 1955 until 1966, during which time he became the father to five children. He left urban life behind when he moved his family to a farm in Sussex County. Horses and a varied collection of farm animals and chores became a way of life for the entire family. Even though he often worked two jobs at a time, he decided to attend a farrier class at Penn State University, thereby allowing him to shoe his own horses as well as others. His attendance at Penn State resulted in him becoming a devoted Nittany Lions fan. Even though legally blind, he’d pull that Rollator up to the television with volume at ten and be able to watch every play.

Being a jack-of-all-trades, Cyrus had a great mind for inventing, especially if it was of a problem-solving nature. His early work in a machine shop which manufactured airplane parts led to him becoming an ace machine maintenance man later in life.  He made many good friends along the way and tormented many of his fellow workers with his dry wit and sense of humor. He was the ultimate jokester, and if he sensed the slightest gullibility in you, you were his target. Ask Roy Bernier!

Cyrus always had a love and skill for building and woodworking. Even after being declared legally blind, you could find him in his garage, which became his wood shop, creating various objects of art which included birdhouses, clocks, wooden crosses, and various framed images. However, his specialty was his framed metal rubbings of The Last Supper. He would transfer the image onto metal, make the frames out of wooden privacy boards, which he would plane to a certain thickness, cut specific lengths, then assemble all the pieces. If you were a friend, guest, grocery delivery person, or service person around his home, you went home with a Last Supper; it was his Witness to the Lord.

He was an obedient servant to his Lord and Savior, even serving as Deacon in his church. His devotion, even up until his passing, was unparalleled.

In addition to his parents and siblings, Cy was pre-deceased by his daughter, Linda Miller and her son, Jeff Orben, and his most beloved wife, Alta. Left to cherish his memory is his large family are his biological and stepchildren, Donna Spiers, Cheryl and John Smith, Thomas Minor, Theresa and Mike Perry, Beth Musick, and Tony and Tammy Logerwell; sixteen grandchildren; and many great grandchildren.  His dearest friends include Tom Allen, Roy and Phyllis Bernier, Dave and Cynthia Adcock, and Linda Gibson. A joyful reunion was most definitely had, as he joined his Lord and was reunited with his precious Alta.

Services are to be determined, but will include interment in Barrancas Naval Cemetery.